Moon Diver

Plot

It is the dawn of the 22nd century on the third planet from the sun. Humanity, broken free from its eschatological thralls, now watches as a lone boy stands before it. Within his hands, he controls the power of Mephistopheles – a force which can breathe life into that which has none. Animated machines devour the helpless; buildings shower the streets with storms of glass; cups, trains, bridges, whole towns – the remnants of civilization are transformed into bloodthirsty beasts whose only purpose is to wield the hammer of judgment.

The boy’s name is Faust, and he will not stop until he has cleansed the planet of humankind and claimed it as his own. Centuries have passed since his advent, and the world now holds its breath as the End of Days draws ever closer. Yet hope is not lost. Hidden among humanity’s last remaining survivors, an elite unit of specially trained ninja known as Moondivers have been lying in wait for orders from their Shogun to embark on one final mission to reclaim the planet. Today, those orders arrived.

Development

Koichi Yotsui directed the four-player side-scroller, with gameplay reminiscent of the Strider game series, which was also helmed by Yotsui.

Reception

The title has received generally mixed reviews, with a score of 61 on Metacritic. IGN gave Moon Diver a score of 7 out of 10, calling it fun but inconsistent and flawed. The Official Xbox Magazine gave it a score of 4.5 out of 10, praising the co-op mode but criticizing the unnecessary long stages and calling the solo mode a hopeless grind. Game Informer gave the title a 7.25 rating out of 10, stating that the multiplayer component was more enjoyable and polished than the single player. Team Xbox gave the title an 8.5 out of 10 rating, praising the fun gameplay and graphics but criticized the repetitive soundtrack.